History, Facts and
Information about CarinusThe content of this article
provides interesting history, facts and information about
the Emperor Carinus who ruled the empire of Ancient Rome. Read about the life of Numerian who can be described or
remembered as:

"The
debauched Emperor suspected of incest..."

Short Biography
about the life of Carinus
Short Biography profile and facts about one of the most famous Romans of all, in the life of
Carinus, Emperor of Rome and provinces of the Roman Empire.

Name commonly known as: Carinus

Latin Roman Name: Marcus
Aurelius Carinus

Reigned as Roman Emperor /
Caesar: 282-3 under his father and jointly with his brother CarinusDecember 283 - November and
284-285 in competition with Diocletian

Dynasty / Historical Period:
Crisis of the Third Century (235 - 284) the era of Illyrian Emperors
(268 - 285)

Name of previous Emperor: His predecessor or the Emperor before Carinus was Carus

Family connections / Genealogy

Name of Father: Carus

Married: Magnia Urbica

Children: Nigrinianus

Brother: Numerian

Sister: Aurelia Paulina

Place and Date of Death:
Died September 285
Place of death River Margus

Name of next Emperor:
The successor to Carinus was briefly his infant child Nigrian. His
competitors for the throne were the usurperJulian of PannoniaThe next really famous emperor was
Diocletian

Interesting facts
about the life of Carinus
Obtain a fast overview of the times of the Roman Emperor
Carinus from the following facts and information about his life.
Carus the previous emperor was the father of Numerian and
his older brother Carinus. The brothers were raised to the
rank of Caesar in AD 282, soon after their father had become
emperor. Carus had gained many victories over the Persians
and Numerian accompanied his father to the East and
Mesopotamia. Carinus stayed in Rome to rule the west. Their
father died suddenly in A.D. 283 and his sons succeeded him
ruling as co-emperors. Carinus was perceived as the 'senior'
emperor. Carinus was, however, completely inept as a ruler.
He led a life of vice and debauchery and spent enormous
amounts of public money on festivals, entertaining and
gaining support of the 'mob'. He is said to have taken
nine wives, some he murdered even while they were pregnant.
He filled the Palace with actors and harlots, singers and
pimps. Carinus was vain and a spendthrift. He wore jewels on
his shoes, used only a jewelled clasp for his cloak and
often a jewelled belt also. At one of his banquets Carinus
served one hundred pounds of birds, one hundred pounds of
fish, and one thousand pounds of meat of different kinds. He
lavished on his guests vast quantities of wine. Carinus swam
about among apples and melons and strewed his
banqueting-halls and bedrooms with roses from Milan. The
bedrooms were used for decadent orgies. He is also said to
have been involved in an incestuous relationship with his
sister Aurelia Paulina. This has given rise to doubts about
whether it was his wife or his sister who was the mother of
his heir, Nigrinianus. His brother Numerian was assassinated
in November 284 travelling to Rome leaving Carinus as sole
emperor which was disputed by many disapproving Romans
including the great commander Diocletian and the usurper
Julian of Pannonia - both of whom had been proclaimed
emperor. Carinus and his army defeated and killed
Julian of Pannonia early in 285 in Verona. Carinus then
marched against Diocletian. The infamous Carinus was
defeated in battle when his army deserted him and
subsequently assassinated in September 285. His infant heir
Nigrian had died sometime between late 284 and early 285
leaving Diocletian as undisputed emperor of the vast Roman
Empire and ending the rule of the Illyrian Emperors (268 -
285).

Carinus - Dynasties of Roman Emperors -
Illyrian Emperors (268 - 285)The Illyrian Emperors (268
- 285). The "Illyrian emperors" is the name given to the
Roman emperors who governed the Roman Empire between 268 and
282. Illyria was a region in the western part of
today's Balkan Peninsula. The people for Illyria were renown
for their military prowess and they became an important
source of manpower for the Roman army. Because of their
military strength many of the emperors from this period came
from Illyria.